2009 Free Agent Destinations
Michael Lins
11-9-08
Once the first "domino" falls, it will set off a chain reaction. Here is a look at some of the big ticket free agents available, as well as where we think they'll end up playing in 2009.
Manny Ramirez - Dodgers. Dont' listen to all the talk about a six year deal coming from Scott Boras. Not even Manny can expect a 6 year deal. The push is for a four year deal. The Dodgers have been waiting for a superstar to come to LA ever since they traded Piazza. They'll make sure they keep Ramirez. Manny brought excitement to the stadium, respect to the team as a NL pennant contender and was a leader in the clubhouse.
(If not the Dodgers, than Toronto Blue Jays, with the Orioles being the wild card to land Ramirez).
C.C. Sabathia - Yankees. Missing the playoffs in the first year after running Joe Torre out of team, while Torre went cross country and brought his new team into the playoffs can't sit well with the Steinbrenner brothers. With massive amounts of money coming off their payroll, look for them to add it right back. Sabathia will be the centerpiece of the Yankee's rotation for at least the next six years.
(If not the Yankees, than the Dodgers, with the Angels being the wild card to land C.C.)
A.J. Burnett - Yankees. Burnett will also find his way into the Yankees rotation. The Yankees will need more than one starter to help fix their rotation. Look for the Yankees to bring Burnett into the fold.
(If not the Yankees, than the Orioles, with the Nationals being a wild card to land Burnett).
Ben Sheets - Dodgers. Sheets is a tough one to call. The injury risk should keep the length of the contract down to 3 years, which would mean more teams shoud show interest in the potential ace. When managing Sheets in the Olympics, Tommy Lasorda said, this kid is going to win 25 games one year. The Dodgers will need to add a couple pieces to their rotation if they want to advance to the World Series in '09.
(If not the Dodgers, than the Braves, with the Mets being a wild card to land Sheets).
Derek Lowe - Mets. Lowe is not a flashy pitcher, but can be counted on for 200+ innings. He has proven playoff and World Series success and would fit in nicely as the Mets #2 starter behind Santana, as the Mets attempt to catch the Phillies.
(If not the Mets, than the Yankees, with the Phillies being the wild card to land Lowe).
Mark Teixeira - Angels. Not every free agent looking to land a big contract leaves their current team - not if the team is a large market team. The Angels need a big bat to help Guerrero in the line up. 2009 will be Guerrero's last year with the Angels, so Anaheim will have additional money in upcoming years, as well as a need for their middle of the line up replacement.
(If not the Angels, than the Yankees, with the White Sox being the wild card to land Teixeira).
Bobby Abreu - Blue Jays. The Cubs seem like they would be the perfect fit for Abreu, but I look for the Blue Jays to try and find an All Star with some power and a high OBP to stick in their line up which needs some help.
(If not the Blue Jays, than the Cubs, with the White Sox being the Wild Card to land Abreu).
Adam Dunn - Nationals. Apparently Dunn doesn't mind playing for a team with no chance to win. His relationship with Bowden is also cited as a reason why Dunn will land in DC. I think in the end, the Nationals will offer more money than anyone else and Dunn will try to hit 40 bombs in our nation's capital.
(If not the Nationals, than the Rays, with the Blue Jays being the Wild Card to land Dunn).
Francisco Rodriguez - Mets. Have you heard all the talk about the Mets being interested in Brian Fuentes and Chad Cordero? If that doesn't read smokescreen, than I don't know what else does. How else are you going to get K-Rod to come down from his 5 year, $75M price tag, without pointing out any of his shortcomings? The Mets will open a new stadium in 2009, after two straight years of their bullpen collapsing down the stretch. KRod will be one of a couple new pieces added the revamped Mets 'pen.
(If not the Mets, than the Dodgers, with the Anegls being the Wild Card to keep KRod).
Pat Burrell - Rays. Burrell is too slow to be counted on as an OF. He is a better fit at DH and would be a nice fit with Rays, adding some veteran leadership to a team that came up just short in '08.
(If not the Rays, than the Phillies, with the Giants being the Wild Card to resign Burrell).
Orlando Hudson - Dodgers. Hudson is coming off a season which ended early due to injury. Hudson has had a couple of injuries, but is a hard-nosed player. Hudson is the type of player that will help move his new team to the next level. His Gold Glove defense will be as beneficial as his style of play.
(If not the Dodgers, than the Cardinals, with the Yankees being the Wild Card to land Hudson, if they move Cano).
Raul Ibanez - Phillies. If Burrell leaves Philly, which is likely, the Phillies will need to find a free agent they can bring in for about $10-$12M/year. Ibanez fits the bill.
(If not the Phillies, than the Braves, with the Yankees being the Wild Card to land Ibanez).
Mike Mussina - Yankees. I think Mussina will come back for another year. How can you walk away after your first 20 game win season? The additonal wins and K's that Mussina will pick up would help push him closer to Hall of Fame election. He'll be back.
(If not with the Yankees, than with the Mets, with the Phillies being the Wild Card to land Moose).
Brian Fuentes - Mets. Fuentes has shown han can set up, as well as close. The Mets will look to add a back up to KRod, in case their free agent prize gets injured or doesn't perform. Look for the Mets to add the second option, which will help lock down a new look bullpen for the Mets.
(If not the Mets, than the Cardinals, with the Brewers the Wild Card to land Fuentes).
Rafael Furcal - Dodgers. Torre loved him and the Dodgers were a much better team with him. Furcal will be resigned to set the table.
(If not the Dodgers, than the Cubs, with the Blue Jays the Wild Card to land Furcal).
Andy Pettitte - White Sox. Call this a hunch, but I don't see the Yankees re-signing Pettitte, unless their free agent options don't pan out. If the Yankess can grab 2 free agents to start, Pettitte will be allowed to walk. It would seem like he would head back to Houston, but I see him looking to catch on with an AL contender and a chance to face the Yankees a couple times during the season.
(If not the White Sox, than the Mets, with the Phillies the Wild Card to land Pettitte).
Casey Blake - Twins. Doesn't it seem like everyone is predicting Blake will end up in Minnesota? So much so, that you are waiting for a different team to enter the equation? Blake just makes a perfect fit, excellent defense and veteran leadership to be added to a team that normally doesn't bring in free agents. Don't forget, the Twins were one win away from making the playoffs. They should have Liriano back in 2009. As contenders, the Twins are only one or two players away from contending for the AL pennant.
(If not the Twins, than the White Sox, with the Astros the Wild Card to land Blake).
Milton Bradley - White Sox. At first, I thought that Bradley would really remain in Texas. He had a great season, but had some leg concerns, as he missed some games. Bradley can be the player that pushes a contending team over the top, or he can be the player that divides a clubhouse and prevents his team from winning. I think it will take a fiery manager to lead Bradley. Look for Guillen to give it a try for one year.
(If not the White Sox, than the Blue Jays, with the Giants being the Wild Card to land Bradley).
Jason Giambi - A's. Eric Chavez has already come out and spoken favorably about bringing Giambi back. The fans in Oakland would also welcome him back.
(If not the A's, than the Blue Jays, with the Rangers being the Wild Card to land Giambi).
Orlando Cabrera - Twins. The Twins will look to add Cabrera, as a slick fielding SS to sure up the defense which plays their home games on turf. Smart teams will have taken notice to the empahsis the Rays placed on their new SS, Jason Bartlett, naming him the team MVP. You should never underestimate the important of defense. The Dodgers will quickly look his way, if Furcal ends up somewhere else.
(If not the Twins, than the Cubs, with the Blue Jays the Wild Card to land Cabrera).
Jamie Moyer - Phillies. Hometown guy wins World Series with hometown team. That should be good for a new deal. I would be very surprised to see him leave. It would take a large deal to get him to leave - or a "request" for too much of a hometown discount to run him out of town. I don't see either happening; however if it were to happen, there are only two local teams with money to sign him.
(If not the Phillies, than the Yankees with the Mets the Wild Card to sign Moyer).
Kerry Wood - Cubs. Wood has proven that he can close. The Cubs have been good to Wood, look for him to stay with them. The Cubs are on the brink of winning, so why leave?
(If not the Cubs, than the Mets, with the Cardinals the Wild Card to sign Wood).
Randy Johnson - Diamondbacks. Randy Johnson is just 5 wins away from 300. He'll be back in 2009. The Diamondbacks don't want to offer the $13M/year he got last two years, but the D'backs need RJ, a little more than he needs them.
(If not the Diamondbacks, than the Dodgers, with the Cubs and a reunion with Pinella being the Wild Card to land Johnson).
Oliver Perez - Mets. I think the Mets will bring Perez back. He's a nice back end of the rotation option to have. The Mets fans like Perez. They need pitching, so look for him to resign.
(If not the Mets, than the Dodgers, with the Cardinals the Wild Card to sign Perez).